The official opening of Le Chéile, a purpose built autism unit for Portlaoise Educate Together, took place recently.
Gemma Phelan, Deputy Principal and Special Needs Co-ordinator at Portlaoise Educate Together, was MC on the day and she began by welcoming children, staff, parents and members of the community.
She also welcomed local Minister Charlie Flanagan and Leas Cathaoirleach Laois County Council Willie Aird.
Gemma’s last address she gave a very warm welcome to Adam Harris from AsIAm a spokesman and a role model for people in the autism community.
The ribbon ceremony took place with some children from the unit cutting ribbons.
Stef McGinn, mother to twins Aoife and Áine McGinn who both attend Le Chéile cut a ribbon to represent the close working relationship between the parents and the school.
Finally Adam Harris cut a jigsaw ribbon to open the doorway into Le Chéile.
April is autism awareness month with the colour blue signifying all those who live with autism. A blue balloon release ceremony was next on the agenda to celebrate this great occasion.
Children, parents and staff released and watched loads of blue ballons float away to a raptuious applause.
The Greens Schools Committee, the Student Council, the School Band and 6th Class who were representing the student body sang ‘I’m a Believer’.
Mary Dolan, chairperson of the Board of Management spoke a few words, she thanked the builder, the staff and the parents and children who were patient when ground works and building were underway.
She stated: “the unit represented the main ethos of the Educate Together, which is inclusion.”
Adam Harris, brother to Minister for Health and Fine Gael TD Simon, spoke of his Aspergers.
He explained he is often asked what it’s like to be autistic and said: “The best way I can describe it is, if someone plucked you up out of obscurity and dropped you in the middle of Tokyo and asked you to navigate your way around.
“You can only imagine how confusing that would feel.” He went onto say if I could ask everyone who meets someone with autism to do three things. One – use plain language, two – simplicity, always keep things simple and three – acceptance, be accepting of who you’re speaking to.
He asked everyone to follow his AsIam programme for the month of Apil, autism awareness month. It’s called the AsIam Challenge using the hashtag #asiamchallenge. Everyday advice, guidence and quotes will be posted on all social media platforms.
Adam then unveiled a wall plaque to commemorate the opening of the unit and before everyone was invited inside Gemma made special mentions to Theresa Cullen, parent and Eamon Lennon the school’s caretaker, for their work in the sensory room. Theresa painted a beautiful mural of an underwater shipwreck.
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